US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said that he will make some decisions soon on whether to recommend an increase in the number of US troops in Afghanistan and whether the totals should be based on military requirements rather than pre-set limits. American media reported that Mattis was scheduled to fly to Afghanistan on Sunday but bad weather prevented the trip. Mattis added that he was reviewing the next steps in the war after discussions with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and the top US commanders. “We’re putting our thoughts together now,” Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters in Abu Dhabi during his debut trip to the Middle East. Mattis said he spoke by video conference for several hours on Sunday with the top US commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Nicholson. The Pentagon chief said he will collect his thoughts and then send recommendations to the White House. He said President Donald Trump is open to his advice. Earlier this month, Nicholson told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he needs a few thousand more troops to train and advise Afghan forces.
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